U.S. patent application number 09/986739 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-15 for communications earpiece and method of attenuating acoustical signals.
Invention is credited to Baskerville, Orval.
Application Number | 20030091210 09/986739 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25532697 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030091210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baskerville, Orval |
May 15, 2003 |
Communications earpiece and method of attenuating acoustical
signals
Abstract
A communications earpiece includes a member shaped to fit within
an ear canal. The member has a passageway extending therethrough.
There is a filter communicating with the passageway. The filter has
a passageway extending therethrough and is aligned with the
passageway in the member. The passageway in the filter has at least
a portion which is narrower than the passageway in the member.
Preferably the passageway in the filter has a first section and a
second section. The second section is narrower than the first
section and the passageway in the member. A method of attenuating
acoustical signals in the communications earpiece is also provided.
The earpiece has a member shaped to fit within an ear canal. The
member has a passageway extending therethrough. The method
comprises placing a restriction in the earpiece which is
substantially narrower than the passageway and which communicates
with the passageway.
Inventors: |
Baskerville, Orval; (Surrey,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORMAN M. CAMERON
SUITE 1401 - 1166 ALBERNI STREET
VANCOUVER
BC
V6E 3Z3
CA
|
Family ID: |
25532697 |
Appl. No.: |
09/986739 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/380 ;
381/328; 381/370 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/2803 20130101;
H04R 25/652 20130101; H04R 2499/11 20130101; H04R 1/1016
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/380 ;
381/328; 381/370 |
International
Class: |
H04R 025/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communications earpiece, comprising: a member shaped to fit
within an ear canal, the member having a passageway extending
therethrough; and a filter communicating with the passageway, the
filter having a passageway extending therethrough and being aligned
with the passageway in the member, the passageway in the filter
having at least a portion which is narrower than the passageway in
the member.
2. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
passageway in the filter has a first section and a second section,
the second section being narrower than the first section and
narrower than the passageway in the member.
3. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
first section of the passageway in the filter is narrower than the
passageway in the member.
4. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
member has an inner end which extends furthest into the ear canal,
the second section of the passageway in the filter being closer to
the inner end of the member than the first section of the
passageway in the filter.
5. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, including a
frusto-conical section between the first section and the second
section of the passageway.
6. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
frusto-conical section has sides at a 30.degree. angle.
7. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
earpiece includes a connector for connecting an acoustical conduit
to the earpiece, the filter being between the connector and the
passageway in the member.
8. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
member has an internal cavity communicating with the passageway
therethrough, a filter housing being within the cavity, the filter
being within the housing and the connector being connected to the
housing.
9. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
filter housing and the cavity are conical.
10. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
second section of the passageway of the filter is between 0.15 mm
and 0.5 mm in cross-sectional extent.
11. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
second section of the passageway of the filter is 0.34 mm in
cross-sectional extent.
12. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
first section of the passageway of the filter is between 0.5 mm and
1.2 mm in cross-sectional extent.
13. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
passageway in the member is between 0.5 mm and 2 mm in
cross-sectional extent.
14. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
passageway in the member is 2 mm in cross-sectional extent.
15. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
passageway in the filter is 4 mm to 10 mm long.
16. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
first section of the passageway in the filter is 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm
long.
17. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
first section of the passageway is 3.3 mm long.
18. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
second section of the passageway in the filter is 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm
long.
19. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
second section of the passageway in the filter is 2.5 mm long.
20. The communications earpiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
member is of silicone.
21. A communications device comprising: a communications earpiece
having a member shaped to fit within an ear canal, the member
having a passageway extending therethrough, and a filter
communicating with the passageway, the filter having a passageway
extending therethrough and being aligned with the passageway in the
member, the passageway in the filter having at least a portion
which is narrower than the passageway in the member; an acoustical
conduit connected to the earpiece; an acoustical chamber member
connected to the acoustical conduit; a miniature speaker connected
to the acoustical chamber member; and a plug connected to the
miniature speaker for connecting the communications device to a
radio.
22. The communications device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the
acoustical conduit is a flexible tube.
23. The communications device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
passageway in the filter has a first section and a second section,
the second section being narrower than the first section and
narrower than the passageway in the member.
24. The communications device as claimed in claim 23, including a
frusto-conical section between the first section and the second
section of the passageway.
25. The communications device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the
frusto-conical section has sides at a 30.degree. angle.
26. The communications device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the
first section of the passageway in the filter is narrower than the
passageway in the member.
27. The communications device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
member has an inner end which extends furthest into the ear canal,
the second section of the passageway in the filter being closer to
the inner end of the member than the first section of the
passageway in the filter.
28. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
earpiece includes a connector for connecting an acoustical conduit
to the earpiece, the filter being between the connector and the
passageway in the member.
29. The communications device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
member has an internal cavity communicating with the passageway
therethrough, a filter housing being within the cavity, the filter
being within the housing and the connector being connected to the
housing.
30. The communications device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the
filter housing and the cavity are conical.
31. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
second section of the passageway of the filter is between 0.15 mm
and 0.5 mm in cross-sectional extent.
32. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
second section of the passageway of the filter is 0.34 mm in
cross-sectional extent.
33. The communications device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the
first section of the passageway of the filter is between 0.5 mm and
1.2 mm in cross-sectional extent.
34. The communications device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the
passageway in the member is between 0.5 mm and 2 mm in
cross-sectional extent.
35. The communications device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the
passageway in the member is 2 mm in cross-sectional extent.
36. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
passageway in the filter is 4 mm to 10 mm long.
37. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
first section of the passageway in the filter is 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm
long.
38. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
first section of the passageway is 3.3 mm long.
39. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
second section of the passageway in the filter is 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm
long.
40. The communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
second section of the passageway in the filter is 2.5 mm long.
41. The communications device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
member is of silicone.
42. The communications device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
connector has a cross-sectional extent equal to the passageway in
the member.
43. A method of attenuating acoustical signals in a communications
earpiece having a member shaped to fit within an ear canal, the
member having a passageway extending therethrough, the method
comprising placing a restriction in the earpiece which is
substantially narrower than the passageway and which communicates
with the passageway.
44. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the passageway in
the member is made between 0.5 mm and 2 mm in cross-sectional
extent and the restriction has at least a portion thereof which is
made between 0.15 mm and 0.5 mm in cross-sectional extent.
45. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the restriction has
another portion which is made between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm in
cross-sectional extent.
46. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein said at least a
portion of the restriction is made 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm long and said
another portion of the restriction is made 1.5 to 3.5 mm long.
47. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the passageway in
the member is made between 0.5 mm and 2 mm in cross-sectional
extent and the restriction has at least a portion thereof which is
made 0.34 mm in cross-sectional extent.
48. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the restriction has
another portion which is made 0.89 mm in cross-sectional
extent.
49. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein said at least a
portion of the restriction is made 2.5 mm long and said another
portion of the restriction is made 3.3 mm long.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to communications earpieces and
methods of attenuating acoustical signals in such earpieces.
[0002] Communications earpieces are used to communicate acoustical
signals to the ear of the user. One type of earpiece includes a
flexible member which fits within the ear canal of the user. An
acoustical conduit, typically a flexible tube, connects the
earpiece to a miniature speaker which, in turn, is connected to a
communications device such as a radio.
[0003] One specific application of such earpieces is for police
officers operating vehicles such as motorcycles. The use of an
earpiece is advantageous, as opposed to using a loudspeaker on the
radio, for reasons of privacy as well as overcoming the
distractions of ambient sounds, such as the sound of a motorcycle
engine. However, the use of a common earpiece has certain
disadvantages as well. For one thing, the sound conducted by the
earpiece may prevent the wearer from hearing important sounds, such
as a warning shouted by another individual. Also, on occasion
sounds produced by a receiving device, such as a two-way radio, may
be so loud that they may damage the hearing of the user,
particularly over an extended period of time.
[0004] In other words, it is important that the ear of the user
receive the acoustical signal from, for example, the radio, but
that the hearing of the ear should not be completely occluded.
Otherwise, it may be possible for someone to sneak up on a police
officer utilizing the device without his or her knowledge.
[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved communications earpiece, as well a method of attenuating
acoustical signals in a communications earpiece so hearing by the
ear is not occluded by the signal from a radio or other such
device.
[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved
communications earpiece and method of attenuating acoustical
signals in a communications earpiece whereby the volume of
acoustical signals reaching the ear of the user is limited.
[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
improved communications earpiece which is simple and inexpensive to
produce, is robust in construction and reliable in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
a communications earpiece which includes a member shaped to fit
within an ear canal. The member has a passageway extending
therethrough. There is a filter communicating with the passageway.
The filter has a passageway extending therethrough which is aligned
with the passageway in the member. The passageway in the filter has
at least a portion which is narrower than the passageway in the
member.
[0009] Preferably, the passageway in the filter has a first section
and a second section, the second section being narrower than the
first section and narrower than the passageway in the member.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a communications device comprising a communications
earpiece having a member shaped to fit within an ear canal. The
member has a passageway extending therethrough. There is a filter
communicating with the passageway. The filter has a passageway
extending therethrough which is aligned with the passageway in the
member. The passageway in the filter has at least a portion which
is narrower than the passageway in the member. The device also
includes an acoustical conduit connected to the earpiece. An
acoustical chamber member is connected to the acoustical conduit. A
miniature speaker is connected to the acoustical chamber member. A
jack is connected to the miniature speaker for connecting the
communications device to a radio.
[0011] The invention provides significant advantages compared to
the prior art. Principally it allows the user, such a motorcycle
police officer, to monitor a communications device, such as a
radio, without significantly impairing the user's ability to
monitor ambient sounds. The hearing in the ear fitted with the
communications device is not completely occluded.
[0012] Moreover, the device is significantly safer than other
earpieces which could be utilized. This is because the maximum
volume reaching the user's ear is limited and can be kept at a
level below the volume which would damage the user's ear. In brief,
the device is significantly safer and more effective than prior art
communications devices and more desirable than loudspeakers which
give the user no degree of privacy for communications received.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partly broken away, of a
communications device according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the
communications earpiece thereof and fragment of an acoustical
conduit connected thereto;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the housing, filter and
connector thereof; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the filter thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1,
communications device 10 includes an earpiece 12, commonly known as
a snail, an acoustical conduit 14, a miniature speaker 16, an
acoustical chamber 18 connected to the miniature speaker, and a
plug 20 connected to the miniature speaker by cable 22. There is
also a collar clip 24 used to affix the device to the collar of the
user. The plug 20 is used to connect the communications device to a
jack in a radio, telephone or other such communications device.
[0019] Referring to the communications earpiece in more detail, and
with reference to FIG. 2, this includes a member 26 which is
generally conical-shaped in this example so as to fit within the
ear canal of the user. The earpiece includes an outer portion 27
connected to the member 26 which in complementary in shape to the
outer ear of the individual, whereby the earpiece is easily
retained in the ear of the individual with the member 26 extending
into the ear canal. The earpiece in this example is of silicone, in
particular Dow Corning's Medical Grade silicone MDX440. However
other types of silicone or other materials could be substituted. As
described thus far, the earpiece is generally conventional and
would be well understood by someone skilled in the art.
[0020] The member 26 has a passageway 30 extending therethrough, as
does the prior art. In this particular example, the passageway is 2
mm in cross-sectional extent. In this example, the passageway is
circular in section and the cross-sectional extent is the diameter
of the passageway. However the passage could be of other shapes
besides the circular shape.
[0021] The earpiece also includes a connector, in the form of elbow
34, which is used to connect the acoustical conduit 14 to the
earpiece. The conduit 14 fits over end 36 of the elbow.
[0022] As seen in better detail in FIG. 3, the elbow 34 has a
conical filter housing 40 connected thereto. In this example the
elbow and the conical housing form a unitary structure, although in
other embodiments they could be separate components which are
otherwise fitted or connected together. The conical filter housing
40 fits tightly within conical, internal cavity 42 of the member 26
as shown in FIG. 2. The conical shape helps to maintain the filter
housing within the cavity. It should be understood however that in
other embodiments the filter housing and cavity could be of
different shapes, such as a cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the
elbow 34 could be fitted directly into the passageway 30 of the
earpiece. Elbow 24 of this example has an interior passageway equal
in diameter to passageway 30 or 2 mm in other words.
[0023] A passageway 46 extends through the elbow and is 2 mm in
cross-sectional extent in this example. In other examples, both the
passageway 46 and passageway 30 of the earpiece could be of
different diameters or cross-sectional extents, but preferably the
cross-sectional extent of both should be between 0.5 mm and 2
mm.
[0024] A filter 50 is located within the passageway 46 so it
communicates with the passageway 46 as well as passageway 30 in
member 26. The filter acts as a restriction in the acoustical
conduit continuing from conduit 14, through passageway 46 of elbow
34 and into passageway 30 of the member 26.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows the filter 50 in more detail. In this example
the cross-sectional extent or diameter d.sub.1 of the filter is 2
mm, which corresponds with the diameter of the passageways 30 and
46. However in other embodiments, the diameter could be different.
The filter has a passageway 60 which is aligned with the passageway
30 in member 26 as well as the passageway 46 shown in FIG. 3. This
passageway has first section 62 and a second section 64. It may be
seen that the second section is significantly narrower than the
first section. Likewise it may be seen that the first section is
narrower than the passageway 30 in the earpiece which corresponds
to diameter d.sub.1.
[0026] The first section in this embodiment has a cross-sectional
extent or diameter d.sub.3 of 0.89 mm. In other embodiments the
size could vary between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm.
[0027] The section 64 is closer to inner end 68 of the member 26,
which extends furthest into the ear canal, than the first section
62. In this example the second section has a diameter d.sub.2 of
0.34 mm. In other examples the cross-sectional extent could be
between 0.15 mm and 0.5 mm.
[0028] The first section has a length l.sub.1 of 3.3 mm. In other
examples this length could be between 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm. The second
section 64 has a length l.sub.2 of 2.5 mm in this example. In other
examples the length could be between 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm.
[0029] There is a frusto-conical surface 70 which acts as a
transition between the first section 62 and second section 64 of
passageway 60. In this example the sides of the frusto-conical
section are at a 30.degree. angle. In other embodiments the angle
could be different, the shape of the section could be different or
omitted entirely.
[0030] The effect of the filter 50 is to control soundwaves before
they reach the ear of the user. Sound waves are chopped or squeezed
to uniform size. When a sound wave reaches the filter, it is
squeezed further in the first section 62. However only a portion of
the sound energy can penetrate the relatively small openings of
section 64. When the sound wave exits the second section, it
expands back to the size it was when it entered the filter since
the passageways 46 and 30 are the same size, 2 mm in this example.
The squeezing and expansion result in controlling the maximum
volume of the signal delivered to the ear. This is particularly
useful with radio communications when two people key a microphone
at the same time. When this happens the radio emits a loud squeal
which can cause hearing loss if the signal is delivered directly to
the ear. This does not occur with the use of a filter.
[0031] It should be understood that in this example the filter 50
is a separate member. In other examples the filter could be formed
by appropriately shaped and sized passageways in the housing 40 or
as part of the earpiece 26 itself.
[0032] It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that
many of the details provided above are by way of example only and
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be
interpreted with reference to the following claims.
* * * * *